The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-10
THE LEVERS OF BUSINESS.
Annual Reunion of the Commercial
Travellers of Indiana at Terre Haute.
Pleasure and Business Happily Combined in
the Reunion-Proceeding of the Meeting
and What Was Said by the Speakers.

On Saturday morning, at O'CLOCK, Speclai |
train of eight Vandaia coaches carried from this
city to Terre Haute four hundred people to at
tend the twelfth annual convention and reunion
of the Commercial Travellers of Indiana. There
were on this train about three hundred CONNER
cial travellers and the remaining one hundred
were wives and sisters OF members of the fra
ternity. Tue train was gratuitous, being fur
nished by Riley Mcleen and the officers of the
road, and the travellers warmly appreciated this
kindness and courtesy. With the exception or
brief stops at Greencastle and Brazil the ride
was straight through, no passengers being taken
by the way. 1t sight to see the pleasant
familiarity of the boys with the conductor, each
and every Of whom was an old and choice
acquaintance The When Band was along but
even without them there would have been music
all along the line, as the tourists were out for
holiday.
On arriving at their destination. the Indian
apolis contingent were met at the depot by the
Terre Haute tourists and the delegation from
Evansville, Logansport, Lafayette and Vim
cennes--the ladies being sent up town in con-
veyances-and to the music of the Ringgold and
When bands marched to MAYORS Opera house,
where they at once proceeded to business. There
were about $50 members present, the largest
meeting that has ever been, and it is quite safe
to say that political convention could be called
together in Indiana-and that means no where
on earth-that would show Overwhelmingly
large proportion of keen, quick witted, prac-
teal thorough going business like citizens. The
Terre Haute committee arrangements H. NJ.
Hollingsworth James II. Jumper, H. E. Har-
rison, Theo Marke and L. p. Stone, had so ad-
mirably planned that everything went off like
clocl, work. The Terre Haute business men, de-
ed their guests should be entertained to
the top limit of hospitality had made I'D purse
| of nearly So, 900, one firm, HUMAN & Co., -
tributng $500. Henley & Watson, propretors
of the National Hotel extended the hospitality
of their house and refused remuneration. N.
and G. Dinner did the same, while other in
stances of abundant good VIII and welcome were
| found on all hands
| Mayor kolsem, upon the travellers being
| seated iu the opera house; made an address of
Welcome. He said ''We fully appreciate that
| in your advent amongst US are enjoying the
1 privilege Of entertaining body of who
| constitute the very of enterprise and
| traffic, reaching out from the mercantile and
| manufacturing center of country into every
part of the entire body of industry, of com
merce and Of trade. 1t is through your I'M
ceasng efforts as the nerves of this magnificent
| body that all its members QuckeneG and
| stirred into continual activity. Surrounded as
you constantly by the dangers incident to
continual travel. your pursuits may be regarded
perpetual menace to the safety, the pros
perity and the happiness of your families. But
men with business instincts such as you must
have. and with the practical knowledge of the
affairs of life which your daily experience must
| broaden and enhance. are not the persons who
| will biindly take all risks without providing the
| compensation against apparent possibilities
| which enlightened observation and prudent
foresight suggest" He then paid a compliment,
to the beneficial organization, and concluded
with hearty welcome to the city of Terre
Haute.
| George G. Webster jr. of indianapolis, re
sponded. He said he had been on the road sew
enteen years, and nothing could induce him te
deny any of the many complimentary things
said by the Mayor of the commercial travellers
He said they there to legislate for the wild
and the helpless ones Tho general public
| seems to consider The commercial traveller as
harem- scarem, when, in truth, his heart yield:
quickly to sympathy, and his hand is ever ready
to relieve. Tho commercial traveller. bullied by
country merchants six days in the week, starved
by close listed country landlords. fed upon by
voracious country bed bugs five or six nights il
the week, who will blame him if, when he comes
home, he will want to get down on his hano
and knees and play dog with the children. Well
the man who would must have the red corpus
cles in his blood very few and far between.
apprehend that when these men have been calet
to take the last trip the road of life. and tn
Conductor of the Universe shall have clipped tn
last coupon from the mileage book of Time, ove
there will swing the white light OF safety tina
shall signal them to that rest and peace the
have SO nobly deserved"
President o. w. Norman delivered his an
nual address. He spoke of the prosperous con
, dition of the organization and of its excelen
| financial standing. He suggested two or thre
| amendments to the constitution, and urged tina
the reserve fund be maintained until it reache
| $4,000, any Accommodations over that to be pal
! out for death insurance.
At the conclusion of the address the presiden
appointed Messrs. Geo. ". Geieer. James Il
Ross. c. n. Spencer, W. j. Robe and A /.
Ralph committee to whom should be referre
ali amendments to the constitution and BYLAW
Amendments were presented to the committee
IL TO change the qualification for mem bershi
so that applicants between the ages of twenty
one and forty five may enter. The present lin
of age being forty years. e. To amend Artic
7 so that no amendment shall hereafter be vote
upon until the members shall have had thirt
days notice of the proposed change 80 I
change Article of the bylaws SO that the al
nual meeting be held in June instead of, as nov
in January The presidents address was r
ferred to the same committee
d. w. Coffin, secretary and treasurer, sui
mitted his report There had been but tv
}. deaths during the year, Nate +. Smyth an
Charles T. Schmidt. There have been four a
sessments of So each and one of ST. making a t
tai of Sl3 from each member for insurance
81. 800 To the benefit surplus fund, ST ,52S hi
been placed during the year. making the accur
!. ulated surplus 49, S0444 The assessment to Il
National G. T. A. amounted to $50 49, previol
years report of total membership, 500; now, 65
The character of risks accepted have been Of Il
very best and only such as advised by the med
y cal director, DR.. Z. S. Elder.
George C. Webster chairman of the executi,
committee n. c. T. A.. gave a report of the r
a. cent meeting of the National c. I. A. in Ne
York city
y During the routine work large number
the delegates fully two-thirds, the noon no
having arrived. left the Opera house to get lunc
con. The president cautioned the members tn
there was important business TO be done al